I started my treatment late, when I was 22; i'm now 29. I had a jones jig appliance combined with a nance button, followed by full upper and lower ceramic braces and elastics. I wanted the best smile possible and went with the jones jig. My total treatment time was about 3 years and then I got an upper essix and lower hawley retainer.

The first time I had braces was in mid twenties for 2 years nothing special only one rubberband, The second time was my late thirties because the first ortho didn't correctly fix my bite, found later he was fined by the state for malpractice, again just braces and elastics for 2.5 years. The third time I had to get braces was because my wisdom teeth were removed and I had developed a large overbite and crossbite. 2 days before I turned 50 I was fitted with full braces and on the very first day I also was fitted with a headgear, I was told to get up 20+ hours a day of wear. So the very first day I wore may headgear right away in the office, boy did I get the looks from the kids. I wore it for 2 years the last 8 months for 24\7. Finally after 2.5 years the ortho decided I needed a tough crib which I wore for the last year of my treatment 3.5 years total. So that was 8 years of treatment which I loved every day of it.

When I was 13 (over 20 years ago!) I wore a functional appliance - the lisp when I first got it was immense! It was borderline as to whether I needed headgear too (unfortunates I didn’t need it - booooo!)

I then needed fixed braces but as a shy, insecure teenager refused and she said that’s fine - maybe when your older - one of my biggest regrets in life! Lol!

Fast forward to now - and I have a modified twin block brace and headgear from BracesShop!

I had braces when I was 12. I had an overbite and my 2 upper front teeth where not straight. I started with metal braces for about 9 months and after that I got a twin block which I was supposed to wear 24/7 but I hated that thing so I only wore it at night. After 6 months of twin block I got metal braces again but the gum on my lower jaw didn't respond well. The orthodontist said I was probably allergic and my gum was al swollen which meant they took out my lower braces. I finished my upper jaw but my lower jaw is back to how it was. Now I wear Invisalign on my upper jaw at night.

-note: I'm not a native English speaker so excuse me if there are any mistakes

When I was 13 (over 20 years ago!) I wore a functional appliance - the lisp when I first got it was immense! It was borderline as to whether I needed headgear too (unfortunates I didn’t need it - booooo!)

I then needed fixed braces but as a shy, insecure teenager refused and she said that’s fine - maybe when your older - one of my biggest regrets in life! Lol!

Fast forward to now - and I have a modified twin block brace and headgear from BracesShop!

I then needed fixed braces but as a shy, insecure teenager refused and she said that’s fine - maybe when your older - one of my biggest regrets in life! Lol!

Sounds similar to my story, when I was 11-12 I was told I needed braces. But after a tooth extraction and almost 2 years later when I was ready, I was told it wasnt 100% necessary any longer. Being 14 then, and several of my other friends already done with their braces I said that I didnt want them